Get inspired!

17,725 architecture projects

Learn from past Buildner architecture competition participants through our extensive project library, curated over more than 15 years!

Chakra-Inspired Design Featuring Cross-Laminated Timber and Charred Shingles in a Meditation Retreat

Authors:
Laura Negulescu, Radu Negulescu, Matei Stoian
Chakra-Inspired Design Featuring Cross-Laminated Timber and Charred Shingles in a Meditation Retreat
Explore the full project presentation!
Subscribers only
Constructed with cross-laminated timber and charred shingles, this meditation retreat integrates chakra principles into its architectural design, creating a harmonious environment for spiritual growth and reflection.
5 key facts about this project
01
Constructed using cross-laminated timber panels for enhanced structural efficiency.
02
Incorporates charred wooden shingles for both durability and aesthetic appeal.
03
Features a bent A-frame design that complements the surrounding landscape.
04
Each space within the retreat is aligned with specific chakra principles.
05
Utilizes rainwater harvesting systems to promote environmental sustainability.

## Analytical Report: Stone Barn Meditation Camp

### Project Overview

The Stone Barn Meditation Camp is situated in a tranquil natural environment, designed to support practices of inner peace and reflection. The project draws on the concept of the seven chakras, which represent various facets of human energy and well-being. Each element of the design is intended to create an environment that fosters both individual introspection and community connection, establishing a balance between the physical space and the spiritual philosophy that underpins it.

### Spatial Organization and Conceptual Framework

The layout of the meditation camp is structured around the alignment of the seven chakras, with each designated area representing a specific energy center:

- **Welcome Area**: Designed to provide stability and grounding, this entry point facilitates a smooth transition into the meditative spaces.

- **Water Esplanade**: Promoting creativity and emotional balance, this area offers a physical connection to water, enhancing relaxation.

- **Sun House**: Featuring solar panels, this space cultivates energy and vitality while emphasizing sustainable practices through abundant daylight.

- **Main Building**: Serving as a hub for community interaction, its design encourages gatherings and shared experiences, integral to emotional healing.

- **Covered Terrace & Sauna**: This intimate space fosters communication and expression, supporting the articulation of thoughts and feelings.

- **Willow Meditation Pavilion & Silence Chamber**: Designed for introspection and heightened awareness, this area leverages spatial geometry to create an atmosphere of quietude.

- **Pure Nature**: This section fosters a direct connection with the environment, facilitating spiritual realization and a sense of unity.

### Material Selection and Sustainability Features

Material choices for the Stone Barn Meditation Camp have been purposefully selected to enhance both functionality and aesthetic appeal. Key materials include:

- **Wood**: Employed in roofing and structural elements to create an organic link to the surroundings.
- **Glass**: Utilized extensively to maximize natural light and blur boundaries between interior and exterior spaces, essential for a meditative atmosphere.
- **Stone**: Incorporated in foundational and interior aesthetics, stone represents durability and stability, reinforcing a sense of groundedness.
- **Environmental Technologies**: Implementation of systems for solar energy collection, rainwater harvesting, and geothermal heating showcases the project's commitment to sustainability, reducing its ecological footprint while enhancing user experience.

The architectural design features a master plan that allows for a natural flow of spaces, promoting exploration and discovery. Elevations and floor plans illustrate the careful consideration of user interaction, balancing private areas for meditation with communal spaces for engagement.

Environmental sustainability principles are integrated throughout, optimizing energy efficiency and aligning the facility with its natural context. The project illustrates how intentional architectural design can harmonize human experiences with the broader ecosystem.

Noticed a mistake?
Highlight the text and click on
Noticed a mistake

Enter an open architecture
competition now

The Home of 
Shadows
The Home of Shadows
The light studies. Edition #4
The Next House: USA
The Next House: USA
20,000 USD Prize
The Architect's 
Chair
The Architect's Chair
Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5
Kinderspace
Kinderspace
Architecture for Children’s Development #3
The Architect’s 
Stair
The Architect’s Stair
Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026
100,000€ Prize / 2026

The Next House: USA — A Global Call to Reimagine the American Suburb

`
Competition organisers

Buildner is launching The Next House: USA, a global architecture competition that challenges architects, designers, and thinkers to reimagine the American suburban home for the 21st century. For decades, the suburban house has symbolized comfort and stability, but today it often reflects excess, isolation, and environmental strain. This competition asks: how can the American home evolve to address climate urgency, economic pressures, and shifting social values?

Participants are tasked with designing a prototype home of no more than 1,500 sq ft (≈140 m²) for a household of two adults and one child. The design should be compact yet generous, adaptable, sustainable, affordable, and replicable across diverse U.S. contexts. More than a design exercise, the competition aims to spark a conversation about how homes can support healthier, smarter, and more connected communities.

The total prize fund is $20,000 USD. The final registration deadline is May 20, 2026, and winners will be announced on September 22, 2026. The Next House: USA invites architects, students, and visionaries worldwide to redefine what the American home means today—and what it should mean tomorrow.

The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 2025

Open architecture competitions

  • Closest deadline first
  • Project competitions first
    Selected winning projects have the potential to be constructed
  • Ideas competitions
    Experimental competitions with the focus on pushing the boundaries of creativity
new
The Next House: USA

Design the next suburban home for the USA

20,000 USD Prize ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 19 November 2025
new
Iceland 
Slow Sauna

Design slow sauna in Iceland

project COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 26 November 2025
Concrete 
Pavilion

Design a concrete pavilion

Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 2025
new
Pavilion Atlas 2026

Design a story of your country

ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 21 January 2026

Recurring architecture competitions

new
The Home of 
Shadows

Design a home with no artificial lighting

The light studies. Edition #4 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 5 November 2025
The Last 
Nuclear Bomb Memorial

Design a memorial that speaks to the cause of ending all nuclear weapons programs

Edition #6 ideas COMPETITION SILENT CONTEST For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 13 November 2025
new
The Architect's 
Chair

Take a seat and make a statement!

Take a seat and make a statement! Edition #5 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 20 November 2025
Hospice - 
Home for the 
Terminally ill

Design a safe and supportive space to those struggling with a terminal illness

Edition #5 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 10,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 26 November 2025
Kinderspace

Design a kindergarten of tomorrow

Architecture for Children’s Development #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 26 November 2025
Museum of 
Emotions

Use architecture to create different emotional states

Edition #7 ideas COMPETITION SILENT CONTEST For this competition, NO DESCRIPTION TEXT is allowed. The architecture ideas must be communicated strictly with visuals.
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Final registration deadline 27 November 2025
Re:Form - 
New Life 
for Old Spaces

Choose a site—used, abandoned, or forgotten—anywhere in the world, and give it a new purpose

Edition #2 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 3 December 2025
The Architect’s 
Stair

Take a step and make a statement!

Take a step and make a statement! Edition #3 ideas COMPETITION
Prize Monetary award
Eligibility Open to all
Advance registration deadline 15 January 2026
new
Buildner's Unbuilt Award 2026

Celebrating your unbuilt architecture visions with a €100,000 prize

100,000€ Prize / 2026 ideas COMPETITION
Prize 100,000 €
Eligibility Open to all
Early bird registration deadline 26 February 2026

Media, partners and clients

To view this project in detail,
please log in with your
Architects’ Network Plus account.
Subscription instantly unlocks all the architecture projects plus other member-only benefits:
  • Access the 17,725 Concept Library
  • Professional tools including file transfer, email, portfolio management, and more
Register now
Already a member? Log in

This website uses cookies to improve user experience and gather usage statistics.

More information is available in our Privacy & Cookie policy